updated 07:05 pm EDT, Fri August 8, 2008

T-Mobile wants App Store

T-Mobile USA is reportedly examining an iTunes App Store-like service for its entire product line, rather than simply shipping the phones as-is, with few custom apps, and leaving the user to explore unofficial app loading solutions. One developer observed that Apple's method has translated into a great success for the company, and infers that T-Mobile hopes to benefit from translating that success to a carrier's entire product line. T-Mobile currently reaches 31.5 million customers, versus Apple's hope to sell 10 million iPhones by the year's end.

Loose plans have been revealed, with revenue sharing being dependent on how much a given app uses the network. An application that fetches video or audio streams across T-Mobile's cell network would use significantly more data than an app that resides solely on the device, for example. Sorting and presentation are decided by popularity, rather than T-Mobile's preference. Allegedly, the service will not stop at just a particular OS, and will be compatible with Android, Java, Sidekick, and Windows Mobile.

The move comes in response to increased competition from AT&T and Verizon Wireless, both of which have expressed interest in opening their networks, and also have offered 3G service long before T-Mobile. Some view this as a necessary step for T-Mobile, since its net subscriber additions for its second quarter dropped 22.1-percent from a year ago.

Why exactly does T-Mobile need to get more or less money per application depending on how much it uses T-Mobiles network? If it uses the network, T-Mobile gets paid for the usage based on the user's contract, and if it doesn't use it, why would T-Mobile need more money for it?

The AppStore works because it only run on devices with roughly comparable capabilities (iPhone and iPod Touch). This has fail written all over it, for the simple reason that T-Mobile sells handsets with a huge range of form factors, button layouts, processing power, interface design, etc. So basically, this is just going to be a repository for S***** mobile Java apps, which their 31.5 million customer will be terribly unimpressed with.

So many WinMo and Palm smartphone lovers say they absolutely hate the concept of the App Store and Apple's DRM. They say they'd rather scour dozens of sites all over the internet for thousands of apps. Only pussies need all their apps in one place. Anyone that can't find apps for WinMo phones don't deserve having extra apps. T-Mobile might as well give up right now. If it even smells like the App store, no self-respecting WinMo user will go near it.

The articles comment about 10 million phones needs just a bit more clarity. The 10 million number is what Apple has as a gold for the 2008 calendar year. It does not count the phones sold is the part of the 2007 year that Apple started selling the iPhone. Nor does it really take into account the analysts predictions of the much larger numbers of iPhones that they expect to be sold.

Of course, T-Mobile numbers should be given some clarity, too. Is not that an international company? I'm guessing that the 31M number is just for subscribers in the United States market. Assuredly they have more internationally. If not, then Apple has about as many phones in the market as half of T-Mobile's subscriber base and that just doesn't seem accurate�if international numbers are in play.

this is all cheesy puff. it will just be another T-Mobile branded catalogue store of the already available - and overpriced - apps. just like the one Microsoft has now for Win Mobile apps, or Handango offers, or the branded and focused one Handango runs for RIM. there won't be a unified hardware spec or SDK. there won't be new middleware for complete one-touch app purchase and installation. you'll still have to buy, download and then manually install each. it's a hype, aimed at suckers.if those kind of 'app stores' worked, Handango should be booming. it ain't. they don't. once again, Apple has shown the way through technical genius to make it really work easily for users, and it's a sensation. great stuff for just a buck or two, or even free.